Best Served Cold
Rating: PG
Pairings: Mark Webber/Rob Smedley
Summary: Hell hath no fury like lovers scorned, when they get dumped by Fernando and Felipe, Rob and Mark plot the perfect revenge
Disclaimer: None of it is real, never happened just the product of an overactive imagination
Authors Notes: A response to a prompt from motorskink "I have a desire to rock the boat so how about...ooh I don't know....Rob/Mark"
Rob was sitting in a bar by himself, that in itself was unusual, he hadn’t been allowed to go anywhere by himself for the last month. Ever since Felipe had dumped him for Fernando the team had closed ranks in an effort to keep the fall out contained. Rob had been upset, yes, he’d voiced threats after emptying the mini bar in his room when the news had broken, but he wasn’t really going to kill Fernando, it was the drink talking. That hadn’t stopped Luca assigning him a minder, one of the press team had been his constant shadow since that day, but he’d given Jane the slip tonight, in fact, he’d locked her in the motorhome, he just needed to be by himself. He’d face Luca tomorrow, he’d do everything tomorrow, tonight he just wanted a quiet drink and wallow in self-pity. He sighed as the bar man put another beer in front of him; he guessed he’d better look for another job; he certainly wasn’t going to be short of offers. He had to get out, he knew he was the elephant in the room at Ferrari now and he couldn’t spend the rest of his life being shadowed in case he blurted out the Scuderia’s Secrets. A move from F1? Sportscar maybe, Rallying perhaps, Touring car even, those drivers were complete lunatics.
He swallow down another gulp of beer and cursed Felipe, he’d given up his home and his family for that man and for what? To be a stopgap while Felipe got his hands on Fernando. What about Mark? He must be just as devastated, if there was one relationship in the paddock he thought was rock solid it was that one.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone sit next to him,
“Alright mate” Mark Webber said, Rob nodded.
“I’m sorry about Fernando”
“Sorry about what happened mate”. They chuckled as they both spoke at once, Rob made an ‘After you’ gesture with his hand,
“I really am sorry about you and Felipe, I never thought you to would ever split up” Mark said, Rob smiled,
“I was thinking the same about you and Fernando, I’m sorry too, it’s hard I know” he replied. Mark raised his glass,
“Here’s to us, not going down without a fight,” he said. Rob clinked his glass in salute,
“Damn right” Rob swallowed down another gulp of beer “so how have you been” he asked sincerely. Mark sighed,
“It’s been hard” Rob nodded “when you’ve been together with someone that long it’s going to take a while for it to stop hurting” he replied,
“Tell me about it, I gave up everything I had for Felipe, Lucy won’t speak to me anymore, she won’t let me see the kids. Mum’s ok but Dad cut me off completely, the words ‘he’s no son of mine’ have been used to describe me” Rob said as he swallowed the last of his beer, trying to drown the lump forming in his throat. Mark put his hand on Rob’s back and rubbed it until Rob regained his composure,
“Me and Ann had pretty much reached the end by the time I took up with Fernando, Mum and Dad were ok with Fernando too, they always knew I preferred boys to girls’ right from when I was a teenager. Dad’s been a great support, but what about you, anyone been supporting you?” Mark said,
“Andrea, of all people, has been great, he’s been there for me when I was emptying mini bars in every hotel, throwing my guts up and crying myself to sleep at nights. My cousin Sally and her girlfriend have been great too, she says we outcasts should stick together, she offered me a place to stay and dealt with the flack from the family when I had to go home, they’re the best” Rob replied.
Mark signalled the bar man for two more beers and changed the subject before they both disgraced themselves.
“It’s nice be able to go out for a drink by myself, I managed to give my minder the slip tonight” he remarked,
“You too? I locked mine in the motorhome,” Rob said with a chuckle. Mark spluttered into his beer,
“I took Simon to a busy bar in the market place and ‘Lost’ him” Mark replied, Rob laughed.
“The team are trying to pretend everything is hunky dory but the press are sniffing around, they’ve noticed the tension” he said
“Yeah, the press have noticed the atmosphere between Red Bull and Ferrari, Christian is trying to spin it out to his advantage, the press think that after what happened in Malaysia, Ferrari have made one of us an offer to jump ship. Marko is convinced everyone knows about Fernando and me and the shit is going to engulf the team and somehow Seb will be involved and he will be blamed for it and Dietrich will sack him and...and...and...” Mark said with a laugh.
“If an F1 car could be powered by Paranoia alone Red Bull would be the greenest team on the grid,” Rob blurted out. Mark stared at him then burst out laughing,
“That’s brilliant mate absolutely brilliant,” he said.
“Marko must realize that what happens in the paddock stays in the paddock, there’s no chance of it reaching the press” Rob remarked, Mark shrugged,
“Don’t know mate, he’s so wrapped up in making sure Seb stays squeaky clean, I’m not sure he notices much else, besides there are many in the team that love winding him up with story’s about what Seb gets up to behind closed doors, true and false. One day he’s going to snap and run naked down the pitlane with a rubber glove on his head screaming ‘I’m a chicken’ and I can’t wait” he said, Rob spat his beer out and laughed until he was breathless.
“Stefano and Luca are worried that I’ll nobble the car, I got so pissed off with one or other of them standing an inch away from my shoulder as I worked that I said “This car doesn’t need my help to fail, it does that all by itself”, that’s when I got my minder. Anyway I’m not stupid enough to do anything now, this is China, Confucius says Revenge is a dish best served cold” Rob replied. Mark nodded then became quiet as he started thinking.
“You up for that?” he asked, eventually,
“Up for what? Revenge?” Rob asked, Mark nodded,
“Yeah, because I’ve had an idea, you know the ball Prince Albert is planning in Monaco for all the drivers and teams” Rob nodded “well I’ve heard that Fernando and Felipe are ‘Going Public’ at that ball, how about putting a spanner in their special moment by me and you going together” he said. Rob thought for a moment and then grinned wickedly,
“Perfect, I’m definitely up for that,” Rob said,
“Great, we’ll get together at the next race and get the plan moving,” Mark said, Rob raised his glass,
“I’m really looking forward to this” he replied.
Monaco had arrived and the usual publicity stunts were in full swing. Ferrari and Red Bull’s PR departments were busy making sure Mark and Fernando weren’t at the same parties. Fernando and Felipe’s affair had divided the grid, some were angry at the hurt they’d caused Mark and Rob while others were happy for them and thought it was about time they got together. Stefano and Christian had asked Jenson to keep the peace on the grid as he’d declared himself neutral, as he was friends with Fernando and Mark.
When the teams found out that both Rob and Mark had accepted their invitations to the Royal Ball, they were calling in every favour they had to make sure Rob, Felipe, Fernando and Mark weren’t in the same room for too long. The PR teams were also working long hours; Jane and Britta had taken to working together and after numerous glasses of wine, they agreed that Formula 1 would work a lot better if women were in charge.
Over the border in France, Rob and Mark met for a final run through,
“You still ok with this?” Mark asked, Rob nodded,
“I’m looking forward to it; I’ve been screwed around enough by Felipe, Fernando, Stefano and Luca, time to show them I’ve had enough” he said.
“Good for you, I can’t wait to see the look on Fernando’s face when we walk in together, I heard rumours that he was expecting me to hide in the garage this week, because they were making it official at the ball” Mark replied.
“Andrea told me that Fernando and Felipe are going to arrive at 8 O’clock; do we arrive before them or after?” Rob asked.
“After I think, let them go down that bloody Gone With the Wind staircase they’ve got in the palace, let a couple more people be announced and while attention is on Felipe and Fernando at the bottom of the staircase, we are announced then we let the shit hit the fan” Mark replied. Rob grinned,
“Perfect, in fact, you know what would really finish it off” Mark shook his head “a kiss at the bottom of the stairs, that will really put the boot in” Rob said. Mark clapped him on the shoulder
“Brilliant mate, completely brilliant, I had no idea you were so wicked” he remarked. Rob grinned again,
“Neither does Felipe, he will after tomorrow” he said. Mark sipped his orange juice, no beer because they were both driving,
“You staying at Ferrari next year?” he asked,
“I want to get out, but I’m not sure where to go, I have had offers from other teams but I think I need a clean break, doing what though is what I can’t make up my mind on” Rob replied,
“Don’t tell anyone but I’ve had an offer from Porsche to join their Sportscar team and they’re looking for good people, I can drop your name if you want” Mark said. Rob thought for a few moments, he’d thought about sounding out Anthony Davidson and Alex Wurz about the Le Mans series,
“I’d like that, thanks” he replied. Mark drained his orange juice and picked up his keys,
“This is a Monaco Grand Prix that is going to be talked about for years” he leaned over and kissed Rob softly on the lips, “practising for tomorrow” he said,
“Take all the time you need” Rob murmured. Mark grinned,
“Patience” he said.
“Rob was in his hotel room getting ready for the Royal Ball. Luca, Stefano, Andrea and Jane had been pestering him all day, asking him if it really was a good idea for him to go and reminding him not to disgrace the Ferrari name, he’d calmly told them all that he knew exactly what he was doing and not to worry he was not going to damage the precious Ferrari reputation. He bit his tongue to stop himself adding that they’d done enough damage themselves in the past. Rob sighed as he read another text from Luca, reminding him to behave himself. He typed in a text to Mark,
Another fucking lecture from Luca, he really thinks I’m going to throw Felipe from the balcony.
His phone beeped a couple of minutes later; it was a reply from Mark
Know what u mean mate, I’ve had Christian, Marko & Britta in here reminding me not 2 let the team down, I think, I tuned out so I’m not sure, see u in 20 mins
Rob’s hands were shaking, Mark’s kiss had disturbed him in more ways than one, his dreams had been filled with the tall Australian, his smile, his kiss and a lot more X-Rated stuff had invaded his sleep in the last couple of nights. Rob looked at his reflection in the mirror,
“Time to throw a whole toolbox of spanners into the works” he said to his reflection as he picked up his keys and wallet and left to meet Mark.
“You ready for this?” Mark asked, Rob let out a deep breath,
“Yeah, they deserve everything they get” Rob replied. They’d watched Felipe and Fernando acting all lovey dovey while they were waiting to be announced by the MC and they heard the applause they’d received going down the stairs.
“Here we go” Rob said as they handed their invitations to the MC,
“Mr Mark Webber and Mr Robert Smedley” the MC announced. A hush descended on the room, as people stared at them open mouthed and with glasses stuck half way to mouths,
“So which one of us is Scarlett O’Hara?” Mark whispered in Rob’s ear
“Felipe” Rob replied,
“Nah, Fernando” Mark said, both of them started laughing as they walked down the staircase.
As they reached the bottom, they became aware of the silence in the room and all eyes on them. They looked at each other, Mark winked at Rob and he leaned in to kiss him, Rob slid his hand into Mark’s hair and deepened the kiss. There were several gasps and the sound of glasses breaking. Mark and Rob broke the kiss just in time to see Fernando storming out onto the balcony. Jenson strode up, stopping in front of them with arms folded. Mark and Rob stopped, wondering if they’d gone too far, then Jenson broke into a grin,
“You evil fuckers, you evil, evil fuckers” he poked Mark in the chest “I’ve been waiting for something like this, I knew you wouldn’t take Fernando leaving lying down” he said as he gathered them both in for a hug. This broke the ice and more drivers and engineers gathered round Mark and Rob, shaking their hands and laughing over the prank they’d played.
Later on and Rob was out on a balcony, he needed a bit of time by himself. The ball had gone by in a bit of a blur, Christian had come by and shaken his hand, telling him not to tell anyone but he’d enjoyed the stunt they’d pulled. Andrea and Jane had said almost the same thing. Luca and Stefano hadn’t been best pleased but he reminded them that he hadn’t harmed Fernando or Felipe and neither had he broken the Scuderia’s Omerta, so he had nothing to apologise for. He turned as he heard someone behind him,
“You alright mate?” Mark said,
“Yeah I’m fine, just needed a breath of fresh air” Rob replied. Mark handed him a drink, they clinked glasses.
“To a job well done” Mark said,
“Here here” Rob replied. Fernando had left as soon as it was polite to, with Felipe in tow, vowing vengeance on those who’d spoiled his big day.
“We’re gonna be in for some tough times over the next few days” Mark remarked,
“You know what they say, Today’s news is tomorrow’s chip wrapper, they’ll find something else to talk about in a couple of days”. Mark put his arm around Rob’s waist and stroked his hip, Rob swallowed and turned to face Mark, “you know, you don’t need any practise” he said, Mark smirked,
“Never said I did” he replied. Rob reached up and kissed him hard, Mark returned the kiss with just as much hunger. They parted as their lungs began screaming for air,
“Definitely don’t need practise” Rob murmured,
“There’s so much more I don’t need practise for” Mark whispered as he kissed Rob again.
Brazil was its usual wet self in November but no-one really cared, Kimi had pipped Sebastian to the Drivers crown by one point, causing Seb to strop off to the motorhome and sulk for the rest of the day. He’d wanted Christian to put in a complaint about anything he could think of so Kimi could be stripped of his win, but Christian refused, due to the fact that Kimi was going to drive for Red Bull next season. Mark had finally had his ultimate revenge on Seb for what had happened in Malaysia, he’d let Kimi pass him on the final lap, gifting him the win and the championship and Red Bull had got the constructors championship, that was all they cared about. Ferrari and Red Bull were throwing a joint leaving party for Mark and Rob, Mark had announced at Silverstone that he was leaving to drive for Porsche in the Le Mans series, Rob had announced he was leaving Ferrari to join Mark at Porsche in Hungary, just to add more woe on the Ferrari management’s shoulders. Fernando was blaming the car not being up to scratch and Stefano for not having the right team in place to build the perfect car and for failing to make any impression in either championship. Felipe had been given an ultimatum, improve by Canada next year or find a new job, maybe he could join Mark and Rob in Sportscar. Luca’s words had left Felipe in tears. Apparently, all was not well in the relationship either, Felipe, too used to being placated by Rob for all those years had taken it personally when Fernando had refused to comfort him after Luca had delivered his ultimatum and Fernando, too used to fucking his anger out on Mark for years, hadn’t been impressed when Felipe had locked him out. Now they weren’t speaking, again.
“So everyone raise your glasses to Mark and Rob and wish them every success at Porsche, fuck knows they deserve it after everything that’s happened to them this year” Jenson said as everyone raised their glasses and toasted Mark and Rob, Rob leaned over and kissed Mark, to a chorus of whistles and calls to ‘Get a Room’,
“I never thought I could be this happy again, I love you” he said,
“I love you too mate, never in a million years did I ever think I’d be happy again” Mark replied.
Pairings: Mark Webber/Rob Smedley
Summary: Hell hath no fury like lovers scorned, when they get dumped by Fernando and Felipe, Rob and Mark plot the perfect revenge
Disclaimer: None of it is real, never happened just the product of an overactive imagination
Authors Notes: A response to a prompt from motorskink "I have a desire to rock the boat so how about...ooh I don't know....Rob/Mark"
Rob was sitting in a bar by himself, that in itself was unusual, he hadn’t been allowed to go anywhere by himself for the last month. Ever since Felipe had dumped him for Fernando the team had closed ranks in an effort to keep the fall out contained. Rob had been upset, yes, he’d voiced threats after emptying the mini bar in his room when the news had broken, but he wasn’t really going to kill Fernando, it was the drink talking. That hadn’t stopped Luca assigning him a minder, one of the press team had been his constant shadow since that day, but he’d given Jane the slip tonight, in fact, he’d locked her in the motorhome, he just needed to be by himself. He’d face Luca tomorrow, he’d do everything tomorrow, tonight he just wanted a quiet drink and wallow in self-pity. He sighed as the bar man put another beer in front of him; he guessed he’d better look for another job; he certainly wasn’t going to be short of offers. He had to get out, he knew he was the elephant in the room at Ferrari now and he couldn’t spend the rest of his life being shadowed in case he blurted out the Scuderia’s Secrets. A move from F1? Sportscar maybe, Rallying perhaps, Touring car even, those drivers were complete lunatics.
He swallow down another gulp of beer and cursed Felipe, he’d given up his home and his family for that man and for what? To be a stopgap while Felipe got his hands on Fernando. What about Mark? He must be just as devastated, if there was one relationship in the paddock he thought was rock solid it was that one.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone sit next to him,
“Alright mate” Mark Webber said, Rob nodded.
“I’m sorry about Fernando”
“Sorry about what happened mate”. They chuckled as they both spoke at once, Rob made an ‘After you’ gesture with his hand,
“I really am sorry about you and Felipe, I never thought you to would ever split up” Mark said, Rob smiled,
“I was thinking the same about you and Fernando, I’m sorry too, it’s hard I know” he replied. Mark raised his glass,
“Here’s to us, not going down without a fight,” he said. Rob clinked his glass in salute,
“Damn right” Rob swallowed down another gulp of beer “so how have you been” he asked sincerely. Mark sighed,
“It’s been hard” Rob nodded “when you’ve been together with someone that long it’s going to take a while for it to stop hurting” he replied,
“Tell me about it, I gave up everything I had for Felipe, Lucy won’t speak to me anymore, she won’t let me see the kids. Mum’s ok but Dad cut me off completely, the words ‘he’s no son of mine’ have been used to describe me” Rob said as he swallowed the last of his beer, trying to drown the lump forming in his throat. Mark put his hand on Rob’s back and rubbed it until Rob regained his composure,
“Me and Ann had pretty much reached the end by the time I took up with Fernando, Mum and Dad were ok with Fernando too, they always knew I preferred boys to girls’ right from when I was a teenager. Dad’s been a great support, but what about you, anyone been supporting you?” Mark said,
“Andrea, of all people, has been great, he’s been there for me when I was emptying mini bars in every hotel, throwing my guts up and crying myself to sleep at nights. My cousin Sally and her girlfriend have been great too, she says we outcasts should stick together, she offered me a place to stay and dealt with the flack from the family when I had to go home, they’re the best” Rob replied.
Mark signalled the bar man for two more beers and changed the subject before they both disgraced themselves.
“It’s nice be able to go out for a drink by myself, I managed to give my minder the slip tonight” he remarked,
“You too? I locked mine in the motorhome,” Rob said with a chuckle. Mark spluttered into his beer,
“I took Simon to a busy bar in the market place and ‘Lost’ him” Mark replied, Rob laughed.
“The team are trying to pretend everything is hunky dory but the press are sniffing around, they’ve noticed the tension” he said
“Yeah, the press have noticed the atmosphere between Red Bull and Ferrari, Christian is trying to spin it out to his advantage, the press think that after what happened in Malaysia, Ferrari have made one of us an offer to jump ship. Marko is convinced everyone knows about Fernando and me and the shit is going to engulf the team and somehow Seb will be involved and he will be blamed for it and Dietrich will sack him and...and...and...” Mark said with a laugh.
“If an F1 car could be powered by Paranoia alone Red Bull would be the greenest team on the grid,” Rob blurted out. Mark stared at him then burst out laughing,
“That’s brilliant mate absolutely brilliant,” he said.
“Marko must realize that what happens in the paddock stays in the paddock, there’s no chance of it reaching the press” Rob remarked, Mark shrugged,
“Don’t know mate, he’s so wrapped up in making sure Seb stays squeaky clean, I’m not sure he notices much else, besides there are many in the team that love winding him up with story’s about what Seb gets up to behind closed doors, true and false. One day he’s going to snap and run naked down the pitlane with a rubber glove on his head screaming ‘I’m a chicken’ and I can’t wait” he said, Rob spat his beer out and laughed until he was breathless.
“Stefano and Luca are worried that I’ll nobble the car, I got so pissed off with one or other of them standing an inch away from my shoulder as I worked that I said “This car doesn’t need my help to fail, it does that all by itself”, that’s when I got my minder. Anyway I’m not stupid enough to do anything now, this is China, Confucius says Revenge is a dish best served cold” Rob replied. Mark nodded then became quiet as he started thinking.
“You up for that?” he asked, eventually,
“Up for what? Revenge?” Rob asked, Mark nodded,
“Yeah, because I’ve had an idea, you know the ball Prince Albert is planning in Monaco for all the drivers and teams” Rob nodded “well I’ve heard that Fernando and Felipe are ‘Going Public’ at that ball, how about putting a spanner in their special moment by me and you going together” he said. Rob thought for a moment and then grinned wickedly,
“Perfect, I’m definitely up for that,” Rob said,
“Great, we’ll get together at the next race and get the plan moving,” Mark said, Rob raised his glass,
“I’m really looking forward to this” he replied.
Monaco had arrived and the usual publicity stunts were in full swing. Ferrari and Red Bull’s PR departments were busy making sure Mark and Fernando weren’t at the same parties. Fernando and Felipe’s affair had divided the grid, some were angry at the hurt they’d caused Mark and Rob while others were happy for them and thought it was about time they got together. Stefano and Christian had asked Jenson to keep the peace on the grid as he’d declared himself neutral, as he was friends with Fernando and Mark.
When the teams found out that both Rob and Mark had accepted their invitations to the Royal Ball, they were calling in every favour they had to make sure Rob, Felipe, Fernando and Mark weren’t in the same room for too long. The PR teams were also working long hours; Jane and Britta had taken to working together and after numerous glasses of wine, they agreed that Formula 1 would work a lot better if women were in charge.
Over the border in France, Rob and Mark met for a final run through,
“You still ok with this?” Mark asked, Rob nodded,
“I’m looking forward to it; I’ve been screwed around enough by Felipe, Fernando, Stefano and Luca, time to show them I’ve had enough” he said.
“Good for you, I can’t wait to see the look on Fernando’s face when we walk in together, I heard rumours that he was expecting me to hide in the garage this week, because they were making it official at the ball” Mark replied.
“Andrea told me that Fernando and Felipe are going to arrive at 8 O’clock; do we arrive before them or after?” Rob asked.
“After I think, let them go down that bloody Gone With the Wind staircase they’ve got in the palace, let a couple more people be announced and while attention is on Felipe and Fernando at the bottom of the staircase, we are announced then we let the shit hit the fan” Mark replied. Rob grinned,
“Perfect, in fact, you know what would really finish it off” Mark shook his head “a kiss at the bottom of the stairs, that will really put the boot in” Rob said. Mark clapped him on the shoulder
“Brilliant mate, completely brilliant, I had no idea you were so wicked” he remarked. Rob grinned again,
“Neither does Felipe, he will after tomorrow” he said. Mark sipped his orange juice, no beer because they were both driving,
“You staying at Ferrari next year?” he asked,
“I want to get out, but I’m not sure where to go, I have had offers from other teams but I think I need a clean break, doing what though is what I can’t make up my mind on” Rob replied,
“Don’t tell anyone but I’ve had an offer from Porsche to join their Sportscar team and they’re looking for good people, I can drop your name if you want” Mark said. Rob thought for a few moments, he’d thought about sounding out Anthony Davidson and Alex Wurz about the Le Mans series,
“I’d like that, thanks” he replied. Mark drained his orange juice and picked up his keys,
“This is a Monaco Grand Prix that is going to be talked about for years” he leaned over and kissed Rob softly on the lips, “practising for tomorrow” he said,
“Take all the time you need” Rob murmured. Mark grinned,
“Patience” he said.
“Rob was in his hotel room getting ready for the Royal Ball. Luca, Stefano, Andrea and Jane had been pestering him all day, asking him if it really was a good idea for him to go and reminding him not to disgrace the Ferrari name, he’d calmly told them all that he knew exactly what he was doing and not to worry he was not going to damage the precious Ferrari reputation. He bit his tongue to stop himself adding that they’d done enough damage themselves in the past. Rob sighed as he read another text from Luca, reminding him to behave himself. He typed in a text to Mark,
Another fucking lecture from Luca, he really thinks I’m going to throw Felipe from the balcony.
His phone beeped a couple of minutes later; it was a reply from Mark
Know what u mean mate, I’ve had Christian, Marko & Britta in here reminding me not 2 let the team down, I think, I tuned out so I’m not sure, see u in 20 mins
Rob’s hands were shaking, Mark’s kiss had disturbed him in more ways than one, his dreams had been filled with the tall Australian, his smile, his kiss and a lot more X-Rated stuff had invaded his sleep in the last couple of nights. Rob looked at his reflection in the mirror,
“Time to throw a whole toolbox of spanners into the works” he said to his reflection as he picked up his keys and wallet and left to meet Mark.
“You ready for this?” Mark asked, Rob let out a deep breath,
“Yeah, they deserve everything they get” Rob replied. They’d watched Felipe and Fernando acting all lovey dovey while they were waiting to be announced by the MC and they heard the applause they’d received going down the stairs.
“Here we go” Rob said as they handed their invitations to the MC,
“Mr Mark Webber and Mr Robert Smedley” the MC announced. A hush descended on the room, as people stared at them open mouthed and with glasses stuck half way to mouths,
“So which one of us is Scarlett O’Hara?” Mark whispered in Rob’s ear
“Felipe” Rob replied,
“Nah, Fernando” Mark said, both of them started laughing as they walked down the staircase.
As they reached the bottom, they became aware of the silence in the room and all eyes on them. They looked at each other, Mark winked at Rob and he leaned in to kiss him, Rob slid his hand into Mark’s hair and deepened the kiss. There were several gasps and the sound of glasses breaking. Mark and Rob broke the kiss just in time to see Fernando storming out onto the balcony. Jenson strode up, stopping in front of them with arms folded. Mark and Rob stopped, wondering if they’d gone too far, then Jenson broke into a grin,
“You evil fuckers, you evil, evil fuckers” he poked Mark in the chest “I’ve been waiting for something like this, I knew you wouldn’t take Fernando leaving lying down” he said as he gathered them both in for a hug. This broke the ice and more drivers and engineers gathered round Mark and Rob, shaking their hands and laughing over the prank they’d played.
Later on and Rob was out on a balcony, he needed a bit of time by himself. The ball had gone by in a bit of a blur, Christian had come by and shaken his hand, telling him not to tell anyone but he’d enjoyed the stunt they’d pulled. Andrea and Jane had said almost the same thing. Luca and Stefano hadn’t been best pleased but he reminded them that he hadn’t harmed Fernando or Felipe and neither had he broken the Scuderia’s Omerta, so he had nothing to apologise for. He turned as he heard someone behind him,
“You alright mate?” Mark said,
“Yeah I’m fine, just needed a breath of fresh air” Rob replied. Mark handed him a drink, they clinked glasses.
“To a job well done” Mark said,
“Here here” Rob replied. Fernando had left as soon as it was polite to, with Felipe in tow, vowing vengeance on those who’d spoiled his big day.
“We’re gonna be in for some tough times over the next few days” Mark remarked,
“You know what they say, Today’s news is tomorrow’s chip wrapper, they’ll find something else to talk about in a couple of days”. Mark put his arm around Rob’s waist and stroked his hip, Rob swallowed and turned to face Mark, “you know, you don’t need any practise” he said, Mark smirked,
“Never said I did” he replied. Rob reached up and kissed him hard, Mark returned the kiss with just as much hunger. They parted as their lungs began screaming for air,
“Definitely don’t need practise” Rob murmured,
“There’s so much more I don’t need practise for” Mark whispered as he kissed Rob again.
Brazil was its usual wet self in November but no-one really cared, Kimi had pipped Sebastian to the Drivers crown by one point, causing Seb to strop off to the motorhome and sulk for the rest of the day. He’d wanted Christian to put in a complaint about anything he could think of so Kimi could be stripped of his win, but Christian refused, due to the fact that Kimi was going to drive for Red Bull next season. Mark had finally had his ultimate revenge on Seb for what had happened in Malaysia, he’d let Kimi pass him on the final lap, gifting him the win and the championship and Red Bull had got the constructors championship, that was all they cared about. Ferrari and Red Bull were throwing a joint leaving party for Mark and Rob, Mark had announced at Silverstone that he was leaving to drive for Porsche in the Le Mans series, Rob had announced he was leaving Ferrari to join Mark at Porsche in Hungary, just to add more woe on the Ferrari management’s shoulders. Fernando was blaming the car not being up to scratch and Stefano for not having the right team in place to build the perfect car and for failing to make any impression in either championship. Felipe had been given an ultimatum, improve by Canada next year or find a new job, maybe he could join Mark and Rob in Sportscar. Luca’s words had left Felipe in tears. Apparently, all was not well in the relationship either, Felipe, too used to being placated by Rob for all those years had taken it personally when Fernando had refused to comfort him after Luca had delivered his ultimatum and Fernando, too used to fucking his anger out on Mark for years, hadn’t been impressed when Felipe had locked him out. Now they weren’t speaking, again.
“So everyone raise your glasses to Mark and Rob and wish them every success at Porsche, fuck knows they deserve it after everything that’s happened to them this year” Jenson said as everyone raised their glasses and toasted Mark and Rob, Rob leaned over and kissed Mark, to a chorus of whistles and calls to ‘Get a Room’,
“I never thought I could be this happy again, I love you” he said,
“I love you too mate, never in a million years did I ever think I’d be happy again” Mark replied.